Engine-starter.



E. H. OVERHOLT.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.2.1914.

1,168,221 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES W. W W W %%/Q M ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. H. OVER'HOLT.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED ocT.2, 191,4

1, 168,221 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

%%W f W ATTORNEY,

THE coLummA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. H. OVERHOLT.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION man 0cT.2.-1914.

1 168,221 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- IN VEN TOR.

x W 7 BY f I ATTORNEY,

E. H. OVEHHOLT.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED 0612,1914.

l 168,221 Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

IN VEN TOR.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c

E. H. OVERHOLT.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-2,1914.

1,1 68,221.. Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES val/W A TTORNE Y.

THE COLUMBIA FLANDGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

EDWARD H. OVERI-IOLT, 0F GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE-STARTER.

meager.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1914. Serial No. 864,625.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. OVERHOLT,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Engine-Starter, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to starters for internal combustion engines, and particularly to that type thereof which are adapted to rotate the engine-shaft to insure the fir ing of the initial charge, and to be rewound by the resultant starting of the engine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a starter having but very few parts and each thereof of such nature that it will be durable and not liable to become broken or out of order.

' Another object-and a special o-neis to provide a novel motor spring and co-acting mechanism, each of which acts upon the other during the different phases of the operation. p

More specifically stated, I have departed from the usual flat helical spring generally utilized as the motor-spring, and instead thereof employ a spiral spring or spring having compression and expansion in the line of its axis, as the power-storing spring for imparting the initial impulses to the crankshaft of the engine, the compression and expansion not being due, however, to pressure, but to the fact that one end of the spring rotated about its axis while the other is held from rotation.

t is a further object to utilize said spring to disengage clutclrmechanism, this being due to the lengthening of the spring by turning one of its ends as above described, while the other is held from rotation whereby the number of coils is increased, but their diameters diminished. I

It is an object to provide a novel motorshaft arrangement, on which shaft the motorspring is spirally coiled.

It is an object to provide a spring-shaft parallel to the engine-shaft and to provide a simple gear by which either shaft is adapted to actuate the other.

It is a furtherobject to utilize the axial contractile force of the motor-spring to throw one clutch member into engagement with another, to place said members in position for .rotatingthe engine-shaft'to start; the engine.

--lt--1s.an object-to provide means"for hOld ing one'of the rewinding clutches from engaging the other until the engine is running under its own power. i

It is another object to provide a novel friction clutch for imparting the initial impulse to the engine-shaft, said clutch to be driven by the motor-sprin A still further object is to provide a spring of the character describe-d, both ends of which are secured to some rotating or revoluble element, one of said elements being adapted to rewind the spring and the other to receive movement from Said spring.

Another object is to provide means whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated.

Another object is to provide a novel trigger for releasing the motor-spring to impart motion to interposed means which will 'impart the initial impulse to the engine-shaft, the trigger being further employed to prevent engagement of the rewind clutches, as

earlier herein referred to.

A. further object is to provide means for preventing the motor-spring from unwinding when one of the rewind clutch-members disengages from the other.

It is an object to provide novel means for manually cranking the engine, which means is preferably to be left permanently mounted on-the starter.

It is an object to provide novel means for connecting the starter-shaft with the engine-shaft.

within the casing.

T 0 provide a compact caslng which may be readily and easily attached to or removed from the car, and which presents no unsightly or unattractive features, constitutes still another object.

To so construct, arrange and organize the Patented Jan. 11, 1%16;

It isan object to provide a starter in which the motor-spring 1s not contained lvlinor objects will be in part obvious andIllO in part specifically pointed out.

lJoncieely stated, the general obj-ectofthe Q invention is to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

By way of example an engine-starter constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention is hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating it in the best form now known to me, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved engine-starter as it appears on a fragment of an automobile; Fig. 2, a vertical central section, partly in elevation, of a preferred embodiment of my improvements, showing also a fragment of an engine-crank-shaft, (hereinafter termed the engine-shaft,) and the means of connecting the motor-shaft or cranking-shaft thereto; Fig. 3, a fragmental detail of the motor-spring, spring-shaft, and cranking sleeve; Fig.4, a front end view, the front casing member and cap removed; Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 6-6 in Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a perspective detail of one'of the halves of a split assembling ring hereinafter ref-erred to; Fig. 8, a perspective detail of the cap which performs the function of afront bearing for the springshaft; Fig. 9, a perspective detail of the cranking sleeve and starting-pinion; Fig. 10, an enlarged detail of the trigger lever and the tripping block actuated thereby; Fig. 11, a transverse sectional View, taken in the line 11-11 in Fig. 3; Fig. 12, an enlarged perspective detail of the trigger; and Fig. 13,v an enlarged perspective detail of the clutch-hold-out.

Coming now to a detailed description of the drawings above briefly referred to, and indicating by a distinguishing reference numeral each part therein shown, 2 indicates a casing comprising a front, 3 and back 4, secured together by screws 5.

6 designates an end bearing for the motor-shaft.

7 designates an end bearing for the cranking sleeve.

8 represents a bearing for the clutch-holdout.

9 indicates a bearing for the pawl.

10 indicates the spring-shaft, preferably having at its rear or inner end a plurality of transverse openings 11. It is supported near its outer end in a cranking sleeve 12 and at itsouter end in a cap 13 secured by bolts 14 to the front casing-member 3. The

sleeve 12 is supported in the bearing 7.

15 designates the motor-spring, consisting of a torsional coil-spring the turns of which are substantially equal in diameter throughout its length and the compression and expansion of which is in the line of its axis; inner. i formedv with an eye or loop which engages the shank of a bolt'16 which passes through a selective one of the holes 11 in the shaft 10, whereby 1t is held to rotate with said shaft.

fixed on the shaft 10. On its outer face this wheel is provided with clutch-teeth 22.

23 indicates a rewinding gear-wheel provided on its inner face with clutch-teeth 24 adapted for engagement with the teeth 22. The outer face of the wheel 23 is provided witha hub 25 having a peripheral groove 26 which receives the halves of a split ring 27 which holds said gear-wheel 23 in place. The ring 27 is held in place by the cap 13. s

28 designates the motor-shaft, the forward end of which is mounted in a bushing 29 in the bearing 6 in the casing.

30 designates the usual crank-handle clutch pin.

31 designates one member of a universal joint, keyed on the shaft 28.

32-indicates a hub loosely mounted on the shaft 28. 33, 33 indicate bolts threaded therethrough and into the face of the starting spur-wheel 34 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 28. The heads of the bolts 33 act as stop pins for limiting the movement of friction cranking dogs 35 fulcrumed each on the stem of a bolt 36.

37 indicates the cranking drum, keyed on the motor-shaft 28 and the internal surface of the annular flange of which is adapted to be frictionally engaged by the dogs 35.

38 designates the rewind pinion, also keyed on the shaft 28.

39 indicates a trigger, pivoted at 40 to the casing member 4.

41 indicates a tripping-lever to which is fixed a tripping-block 42.

43 indicates a trigger-return spring.

44 represents a clutch-hold-out, preferably in the form of a bell-crank and fulcrumed at 44 (Fig. 11) on the boss 8.

45 is a locking pawl, pivoted at 46 to the boss 9, and 47 represents a spring for hold-' ing said pawl in engagement with the ratchet-wheel 21.

48 designates a universal drive-shaft on the forward end of which is keyed the sec ond member 4-9, of the universal joint the other member of which has been designated b 31.

50,50 ind t upl ng .p ns,.their shanks l a a a g fixed in the member 49 and their heads loosely mounted in sockets in the mem-- ber 31. I v

51 designates a knuckle securedvby a pin 52 on the motor-shaft, and 53 is a knuckle 3 on the end of the engine-shaft 54.

J the spring 15 through the bolt 16 the other member 22 from the clutch-member 21j until he ij 'me' ha x t eau s st red e rgy and the engine isrunmng under 1t QW 11 end ofthe spring being held stationary, by the cranking-sleeve 12, which itself is held stationary by the pins 20 being locked by the trigger. This operation will continue until the number of coils in the spring have been increased and the latter correspondingly lengthened until it draws the clutchmember 22 away from the clutch-member 24,-

when. the pawl 45 engages the ratchet-wheel 21, holding the spring in wound and energized position. The engine-shaft continues to rotate, with all other'parts running idle, and the operator may permit it to so run as long as he desires. Now assume the engine to have been stoppedfand the spring to be in the last described position. The operator in starting will move the tripping-lever 11 upward to the position shown by Fig. 5, to move the tripping-block 42 to trip the trigger 39, releasing the pin 20 andthereby the starting-pinion 19. This pinion being keved to the sleeve 12. and said sleeve connected by the bolt 18 to the motor-spring, will simultaneously release the latter and it in turn will simultaneously impart -rotary movement to the cranking sleeve and thereby to the cranking or starting 131111011 19, which, meshing with the starting-spur 3%, will impart rotary movement to the hub 32, and

through the bolts 36 and centrifugally actuated friction dogs 35 will impart likemov-ement to the friction-drum 37, and thisbeing fixed on the starter-shaft 28 will im part like movement to-theshaft 4S and thus crank the engine. It is desirable that the clutch-member 22 be temporarily held out of engagement with the clutch-member 24,

and this will be accomplished by reason of the operator continuing to hold the tripping lever 41, during which time the trigger 39 will act on the hold-out-dog or clutch-holdout 44 to cause it to hold outthe clutch- P WQ B. iv re q git. mar;-.b. .;;relea ec1 a d the'cl'utch i'nembers 222 allowed toengag'e, thju's rewinjding thespring 'by the: method previously explained.

Should it become necessary to manually; crank the engine, a crank 55 may be applied to the cranking pins on the shaft 28 andthe motion will be transmitted directly through to the engine-shaft. As soon as the engine begins running under its own power it will operate the universal-shaft and motor-shaft and thereby. rewindthe motor-spring in .the manner hereinbefore described.

It has been thought neither necessary nor. best to enlarge this specification and the accompanying drawings with descriptions and illustrations of modifications which are neither essential to nor form any part of the invention, the obj ect hereof being to instruct others skilled in the art to understand the nature of and to carryout the invention in the form at present preferred by me, in which form it has given-satisfactory results. Moreover, many of the details and combinations illustrated are not essential to the invention', broadly considered. All this will. be indicated in the claims hereof, wherein. the omission of an element or the non-inclusion of reference to the detail features of the elements mentioned is intended to be a for. mal declaration of the fact that the omitted features or elements are not essentialto the invention covered by that claim.

NVhatIdoclaimisy v 7 1. In combination in an engine-starter, an engine-shaft, a motor-shaft, a spring-shaft parallel with the motor-shaft, a spring. coiled on the spring-shaft, a cranking-sleeve rotatable on the spring-shaft and operable by said spring, a pinion fixed on said sleeve, and starter elements interposed between said motor-shaft and spring-shaft, said motorshaft adapted to be actuated by said engineshaft, said starter elements adapted to be: actuated by said cranking-pinion, fsaid; spring-shaft adapted to bejactua'ted by said starter elements, and said spring adapted to be wound by said spring-shaft. I: 'r V 2. In combination in an engine-starter, an engine-shaft, a motor-shaft connected therewith, a spring-shaft parallel with the motorshaft,'a spring coiled on the spring-shaft, a cranking-sleeve on said spring-shaft andconnected with one end of said spring, the other end of the spring fixed to said spring; shaft, a pinion fixed on said sleeve, and starter elements interposed between said pinion and motor-shaft and actuable by said spring to ultimately actuate the engineshaft. I p

3. In combination in an engine-starter, an engine-shafh a motor-shaftconnected therewith, a; spring-shaft, a torsion springcoiled; longitudinally thereof and thereon, a crankl s-Slee 0. ai spr ngatt nd operable; byc aid stari g, .p nionfixe omsaid sleeve: and starter elements interposed between said spring-shaft and motor-shaft, said engineshaft adapted to actuate themotor-shaft, said motor-shaft adapted to actuate said starter-elements, and said starter-elements adapted to store energy in said spring.

- 4. Combined in an engine-starter, a spring shaft, a torsion-spring coiled longitudinally thereof and thereon, a motor-shaft, and means interposed between said shafts whereby either may impart rotary motion to the other, said means including a friction-drum and a friction-dog normally in contact with said drum and operable by said spring.

5. In an engine-starter, a spring-shaft, a

. spring coiled thereon, a clutch-member fixed on said shaft, a clutch-member adapted for engagement with the one recited, a motorshaft, and starter elements interposed between said spring and motor-shaft, said spring adapted to elongate and thereby draw one of said clutch-members out of engagement with the other.

'6. In an engine-starter, co-acting clutchmembers, a spring-shaft engaged with one of them, a spring adapted to move said shaft longitudinally and thereby disengage said clutch-members, a motorshaft, and engine spring-rewinding elements intermediate said clutches and motor-shaft, adapted to operate said clutch-members when they are engaged.

7 In an engine-starter, in combination, a spring-shaft, a'spring coiled longitudinally on said shaft and adapted to decrease in length as it is unwound, one of its ends secured to said shaft,'a cranking-sleeve fixed to said spring and operable thereby, a motor-shaft, and starter elements interposed between said sleeve and motor shaft and actuable by said sleeve.

8. In an engine-starter, in combination, a cranking-sleeve, a spring-shaft, a spring coiled longitudinally of and on said shaft and adapted to increase in lengthas it is wound, one of its ends secured to said sleeve and the other to said shaft, a motor-shaft,

ing clutch members, means actuated by said spring as-it elongatesfor drawing one of them-1 ea fi we r a meats-r means for holding the drawn member in said position, and rewinding elements adapted for actuation by said clutch-members when they-are engaged. 4

. 11. In an engine-starter, a motor-spring, capable of being elongated axially, co-acting clutch-members, means actuated by said spring as it elongates for drawing one of them out of engagement with the other, a hold-out adapted to retain the drawn member in said position, and rewinding elements adapted for actuation by said clutch-mem bers when they are engaged.

12. In an engine-starter, a motor-spring, capable of axial elongation, co-acting clutch members, motor-spring actuated means for drawing one of them out of engagement with the other, due to the elongation of the spring, manually actuable means adapted to retain the drawn member in said posit-ion while the'spring is unwinding, engine-starter elements actuated by said spring, and springwinding elements operatively engaged with said clutch-members.

13. In combination in an engine-starter, an elongated spring-shaft, a starter-spring coiled longitudinally thereof and thereon and one of its ends secured thereto, a cranking-sleeve to which the other end of said spring is secured rotatably mounted on said spring shaft, a cranking-pinion driven by said sleeve, a cranking-spur driven by said pinion, and a motor-shaft driven by said spur.

14. In combination in an engine-starter, an elongated springshaft, a starter-spring coiled longitudinally thereof and thereon, a cranking-sleeve to which one end of said spring is secured, a cranking-pinion driven by said sleeve, a cranking-spur driven by said pinion, centrifugally actuated means driven from said spur, and a motor-shaft driven by said centrifugally actuated means.

15. In combination with an engine-shaft, a-motor-shaft connected thereto, a rewindpinion driven thereby, a spur-wheel in mesh therewith, clutch mechanism driven by said spur, a spring-shaft driven by said clutch mechanism, and a spiral-spring coiled on said spring-shaft and adapted to be coiled thereby.

16. In combination with an engine-shaft, a motor-shaft connected therewith, a rewind-pinion driven thereby, a spur-wheel in mesh therewith, a clutch-member driven by said spur, a motor-spring, a sleeve to which one of its ends is secured, a spring-shaft to which its other end is secured, a clutch-member connected with said spring-shaft and adapted for actuation by the clutch-member recited, a cranking-pinion and-means carriedby "said pinion for locking said sleeve from rotation.

1-7 insem ea ar n engi e ts a motor-shaft connected thereto, a rewind pinion driven thereby, a spur-wheel in mesh therewith, a clutch-member driven by said spur, a torsion motor-spring, a sleeve to which one of its ends is secured, an elongated shaft on which said spring is coiled and to which its other end is secured, a clutch-member connected with said springshaft and adapted for actuation by the clutch-member recited, and means for locking said sleeve from rotation.

18. In an engine-starter, a spring-shaft, a spring coiled thereon and adapted for elongation in the direction of its axis, coacting clutch-members one of which is drawn from the other by the elongation of said spring, a motor-shaft, and starter elements interposed between said spring and motor-shaft.

19. In an engine-starter, a tripping lever, a trigger actuated thereby, a starting and locking-pinion adapted to be released by the trigger, a spur in mesh with said pinion, friction-dogs, a friction-drum adapted for actuation by said dogs, a motor-spring, means interposed between said spring and dogs whereby the latter derive motion from the former, and a motor-shaft actuable by said drum.

20. In combination, a cranking-sleeve, a cranking-pinion actuable thereby, a cranking-spur actuable by said pinion, a hub fixed to said spur, centrifugal dogs carried by said hub, a friction-drum actuable by said dogs, a motor-shaft driven by said drum, and a spring for actuating said crankingsleeve.

21. In combination, a cranking-sleeve, a cranking-pinion actuable thereby, a cranking-spur actuable by said pinion, a hub fixed to said spur, centrifugal dogs actuable by said hub, a friction-drum actuable by said dogs, a motor-shaft driven by said drum, a motor-spring, and means for locking-a portion of said elements from rotation.

22. In combination, a spring-shaft, a torsion-spring coiled thereon, a crankingsleeve, a cranking-pinion fixed on said sleeve, a ratchet-wheel having a clutch-face fixed on said shaft, a pawl for engaging said ratchet, a rewind-wheel rotatably mounted on said spring-shaft and provided with a clutch face adapted for engagement with the one recited, a rewind pinion in mesh therewith, a motor-shaft on which it is fixed, a friction drum fixed on said motor-shaft, centrifugal dogs adapted for cJ-action thereith and a cranking-spur rotatably mounted on said motor-shaft.

' 23. In an en ine-starter a motor-shaft a b 7 7 spring-shaft parallel therewith, a spring coiled longitudinally of and on said springshaft, starter-mechanism interposed between said shafts, adapted to drive them In contrary directions and actuable by said spring and means for regulating the tension of the spring while it is not operating.

2%. In an engine-starter, a pair of co-act ing clutch-members normally in engagement, a motor-spring, a motor-shaft, an engine-shaft for driving it, means interposed between said motor-shaft and clutch-members whereby the latter are rotated to thereby store energy in said spring, means interposed between one of said clutch-members and said spring whereby the coiling thereof effects disengagement of said clutch-members, and means for holding them out of engagement at will.

25. In an engine-starter, a pair of co-acting clutch-members normally in engagement, a spring-shaft, a motor-spring coiled in the direction of its axis thereon, a motorshaft, an engine-shaft for driving it and means interposed between said motor-shaft and clutch-members whereby the latter are rotated to thereby coil and store energy in said spring, the continued coiling of said spring contracting its diameter and extending its length, whereby one of said clutchmembers is drawn from engagement with the other.

26. In an engine-starter, a pair of co-acting clutch-members normally in engagement, a spring-shaft, a motor-spring coiled in the direction of its axis thereon, a motorshaft, an engine-shaft for driving it, means interposed between said motor-shaft and clutch-members whereby the latter are rotated to thereby coil and store energy in said spring, the continued coiling of said spring contracting its diameter and extending its length, whereby one of said clutchmembers is drawn from engagement with the other, and means for preventing said spring from uncoiling. v

27. In an engine starter, a pair of co-acting clutch-members normally engaged, a

spring-shaft, a motor-spring coiled in the direction of its axis thereon, a motor-shaft,

an engine-shaft for driving it, means inter-- posed between said motor-shaft and clutchmembers whereby the latter are rotated to thereby coil and store energy in said spring, the continued coiling of said spring contracting its diameter and extending its length, whereby one of said clutch-members is drawn from engagement with the other, means for'preventing said spring from uncoiling, and means for releasing the last recited means, whereby said spring is permitted to uncoil.

:28. In an engine-starter, an elongated spring-shaft, a spring coiled thereon and adapted for contraction and expansion in the direction of its axis, starter elements for torsionally acting on said spring and' thereby expanding 1t, a clutch-member orgy in said spring, and means interposed between one of said clutch-members and said spring whereby the coiling and consequent elongation thereof effects disengage ment of said clutch-members.

30. In an engine-starter, a casing, a cranking-sleeve rotatable in a bearing therein and projecting therefrom, a spring-shaft rotatable in said sleeve and projecting therefrom, a spring coiled on said shaft, one of its ends secured to said sleeve andthe other to said shaft, means'for holding said sleeve from rotation, a motor-shaft, and motor-shaftactuated' means for rotating said springshaft whereby energy is stored in said spring.

31. In an engine-starter, a casing, a cranking-sleeve rotatable in a, bearing therein, a spring-shaft rotatable in said sleeve and projecting therefrom, a spring coiled on said shaft, one of its ends secured to said shaft and the other to said sleeve, means for holding saidsleeve from rotation, a motorshaft, motor-shaft-actuated means for rotating said spring-shaft whereby energy is stored in said spring, means for locking the spring in energized position, and means for releasing it whereby the motor-shaft is caused to rotate. I

32. In an engine-starter, a motor-shaft, an elongated spring-shaft, coacting clutches one of which is connected to the springshaft, a spiral spring arranged longitudinally thereof and directly thereon and adapted to draw one of said clutches out of engagement with the other, means for axially contracting or expanding the spring, starter elements adapted to store energy in said spring, means for retaining said energyin said spring. and means for releasing the last recited element to operate said starter elements,

33. In combination in an engine-starter, a spring-shaft, a spiral motor-spring coiled thereon, a cranking-sleeve rotatable by said spring, an engine-shaft, and centrifugallyoperating dogs driven from said sleeve to rotate the engine-shaft.

34. In an engine-starter, a motor-shaft, a

spring-shaft, coacting clutches one of which is connec ed to the spring-shaft, a spring having coils of substantially the same d1- ameters, embracing the spring-shaft and secured thereto at one end, said spring adapted to draw one of said clutches out of engagement with the other, means for axially contracting or expandingthe spring while it is not in operation, means adapted to store energy in said spring, means for holding said spring in energy-storing position, and means for releasing said spring in order that it may exert its energy. I 35. In combination, a powe'rspring, a cranking-sleeve adapted in one operation to be actuated by said spring and in another operation to hold one end of said spring stationary, a cranking-pinion actuated by said sleeve, a cranl ing-spur actuable by said pinion, a hub fixed to said spur, centrifugal dogs carried by said hub, a friction drum actuable by said dogs, and a motors'haft driven by said drum. i 36. In combination, a power-storing spring, a cranking-sleeve for storing power therein, a cranking-pinion fixed on said sleeve, a cranking-spur actuable by said pinion, a hub fixed to said spur, centrifugal dogs carried by said hub, a friction drum actuable by said dogs, and a motor-shaft driven by said drum. Y 37. In an engine-starter, co-acting clutch m'embers,an elongated spring-shaft, a motorspring coiled spirally thereon, a motorshaft, an engine-shaft, and means interposed between said clutch members and motor shaft whereby the former are rotated to therebyv store power in said spring, thecontinned rotations of said clutch members elongating said spring in the direction of its axis and thereby moving said spring-shaft longitudinally to withdraw one of said clutch members from engagement with the other. a 38. In an engine-starter, co-acting clutch members, a motor-spring coiled spirally thereon, a motor-shaft, an engine-shaft engaged therewith, means interposed between said clutch members and motor-shaft whereby the former are rotated to thereby store power in said spring, the continuedrotations of said clutch members elongating said spring in the direction of its axis and there'- by moving said spring-shaft longitudinally to withdraw one of said clutch members from engagement with the other, and means for preventing said spring from exhausting its energy until it is desired that it do so.

39. In an engine-starter, co-acting clutch members, a motor-spring coiled spirally thereon, a motor-shaft, an engine-shaft engaged therewith, means interposed between said clutch members and motor shaft whereby the former are rotated tothereby store power in said spring, the continued rotations of said clutch members elongating said spring in the direction of its axis and thereby moving said spring-shaft longitudinally to withdraw one of said clutch members from engagement with the other, means for preventing said spring from exhausting its stored energy until it is desired th at it do so, and means for releasing the last recited means.

40. In an engine-starter, a motor-spring, a shaft to which one of its ends may be secured, means adapted for selective engagements with said shaft for effecting such securement, an engineshaft, a cranking-sleeve on the first recited shaft, the other end of the spring secured thereto, and means interposed between said sleeve and engine-shaft whereby the cranking-sleeve causes the engine-shaft to be rotated.

41. In an engine-starter, a spring-shaft, a motor-spring coiled longitudinally thereof and thereon, means for regulating the tension of said spring while it is not in op eration, a cranking-sleeve to which one end of the spring is secured, a cranking-pinion driven by said sleeve, a cranking-spur driven by said pinion, and a motor-shaft driven 5 by said spur.

42. In combination, a motor-shaft, an eng1ne-shaft for drivlng it, clutch-mechanism driven from said motor-shaft, a springshaft actuated by said clutch-mechanism, a spring coiled longitudinally of and on said shaft and adapted to be energized thereby, and centrifugally actuated means for iniparting motion, in one operation of the device, to said motor-shaft.

43. In an engine-starter, a spring-shaft, a spring coiled longitudinally thereof and thereon and one of its ends secured thereto, said spring adapted to elongate as it is coiled, means for rotating said shaft in one direction to wind said spring by coiling it from that one of its ends which is secured to said shaft, co-acting clutclrmembers, one of them drawn out of engagement with the other as the spring is wound, and enginestarter elements operable by said clutchmembers when they are engaged.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I hereto subscribe my name at Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois, this 21st day of September, 1914:.

EDWARD H. OVERHOLT.

Witnesses:

A. W. Knn'rson, H. M. RICHARDS.

Sspies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

